Vehicle comprising an electrically conductive vehicle part that can be used as a resistor element for converting electrical energy into heat

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle, preferably a commercial vehicle, a tour coach or a city bus. The electrically drivable vehicle ( 1 ) comprises an electric machine ( 2 ) that can be operated as a generator, an accumulator for electrical energy ( 3 ), an electrically conductive vehicle part, and a control device ( 5 ). The accumulator for electrical energy ( 3 ) is designed to receive electrical energy ( 4 ) from the electric machine ( 2 ) and/or to deliver electrical energy ( 4 ) to the electric machine ( 2 ). The control device ( 5 ) is designed, when at least one predetermined energy-dissipation condition is met, to divert electrical energy ( 4 ) generated when the electric machine ( 2 ) is being operated as a generator to the electrically conductive vehicle part for conversion into thermal energy, wherein the electrically conductive vehicle part is a vehicle frame ( 6 ) and/or a vehicle body ( 7 ) and/or a bodywork ( 8 ).

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A vehicle comprising
 an electric machine which can be operated as a generator, 
 a storage device for electrical energy which is designed to absorb electrical energy from the electric machine or to emit electrical energy to the electric machine 
 an electrically conductive vehicle part, and 
 a control device which is designed, when at least one predetermined energy dissipation condition is met, to discharge electrical energy which is generated during generator operation of the electric machine to the electrically conductive vehicle part for converting it into thermal energy, wherein the electrically conductive vehicle part is a vehicle frame or a chassis. 
 
     
     
       2. The vehicle as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is a commercial vehicle. 
     
     
       3. The vehicle as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined energy dissipation condition is met if a state of charge of the storage device for electrical energy exceeds a predetermined threshold value. 
     
     
       4. The vehicle as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined energy dissipation condition is met if the storage device for electrical energy is fully charged. 
     
     
       5. The vehicle as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined energy dissipation condition is met if there is a technical defect in the storage device for electrical energy. 
     
     
       6. The vehicle as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the control device is designed to discharge the electrical energy as a short circuit current by triggering a short circuit with the electrical vehicle part which serves as a resistor element. 
     
     
       7. The vehicle as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the electrical energy which is discharged to the electrically conductive vehicle part is emitted directly to the environment as thermal energy. 
     
     
       8. The vehicle as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the electrical energy discharged to the electrically conductive vehicle part is emitted directly to the environment as thermal energy without an intermediate cooling circuit. 
     
     
       9. The vehicle as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the control device is designed, when the predetermined energy dissipation condition is met, to use the vehicle frame or the vehicle body or the chassis as a rheostatic brake. 
     
     
       10. The vehicle as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the control device is designed, when the predetermined energy dissipation condition is met, to use some of the electrical energy for operating at least one electrified auxiliary unit. 
     
     
       11. The vehicle as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the at least one electrified auxiliary unit is a fan, a cooler, an electrical passenger compartment heater, a front window heater, a rear window heater, an air compressor, a water pump, a hydraulic pump, an air-conditioning compressor or an oil pump. 
     
     
       12. The vehicle as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is a commercial vehicle and the electrically conductive vehicle part is the vehicle frame or the vehicle body. 
     
     
       13. The vehicle as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the commercial vehicle is a heavy goods vehicle, coach or city bus.